International Review of the Red Cross (2016), 98 (2), 393–399. War and security at sea doi:10.1017/S1816383117000431 Interview with Ambassador Ong Keng Yong Executive Deputy Chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and former Secretary- General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)* Ambassador Ong Keng Yong is the Executive Deputy Chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Concurrently, he is Ambassador-at-Large at the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, non-resident High Commissioner to Pakistan and non-resident Ambassador to Iran. He also serves as Chairman of the Singapore International Foundation. Mr Ong served as Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, based in Jakarta, Indonesia, from January 2003 to January 2008. In this interview, the Ambassador reflects on some issues of particular concern with regard to war and security at sea in the region of Southeast and East Asia. Keywords: South China Sea, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, war, security, sea. * This interview was conducted on 16 June 2017 by Vincent Bernard, Editor-in-Chief, and Ellen Policinski, Managing Editor of the Review. © icrc 2017 393 Interview with Ambassador Ong Keng Yong The topic of war and security at sea is increasingly becoming more important considering the latest trends and maritime operations carried out by States. It seems to be especially important in the region of Southeast Asia. Tell us about the current situation in the South China Sea, and provide our readers with an overview of the region, the territorial disputes and the players involved. Maritime security is a particularly important topic for Southeast Asia because of its specific geography. There is more sea than land in this region. The South China Sea is the dominant body of water where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN] as the sole regional inter-governmental organization is extensively involved in the political-security cooperation, economic integration and socio-cultural development of its ten member States. The South China Sea alone encompasses an area of more than 3.6 million square kilometres, whereas the total landmass of Southeast Asian countries is approximately 4.4 million square kilometres. The South China Sea is a very important maritime route, central to international trade in the region. Due to its location on the crossroads between two oceans – the Pacific and the Indian – the sea connects countries in Europe, the Middle East and South Asia with Southeast and East Asia. A lot of trade and maritime activities between the East and the West rely on the South China Sea. Very often, one can hear experts asserting that the South China Sea is a critical part of the international oil and gas business. In fact, China, Japan and South Korea depend heavily on oil imports from the Persian Gulf, and all the oil tankers sail through the South China Sea. Additionally, the United States has been present in the region following the end of World War II. The United States has developed defence treaty relations with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand. Thousands of US companies actively interact with their Southeast and East Asian counterparts, and the region gathers large numbers of American professionals, students and tourists. The importance of the South China Sea to the United States lies in its value as a significant link in East–West trade. It is also a key component of the overarching US military and strategic presence in Asia. Apart from the United States, there is a substantial European presence in the region. Historically, the sea was a significant factor for Europeans arriving to Southeast Asia for trade purposes. Today, with global trade, European business people and investors regularly come to Southeast Asia. ASEAN member States have built on these links with the United States and Europe. Hence, developments in Southeast Asia, especially concerning the South China Sea and security, have always attracted international attention. Southeast Asia and ASEAN can be described as being prominently on the radar screen of people in international affairs, particularly in the business of buying and selling goods and services between the East and the West. The South China Sea is also known today for various territorial disputes between several countries, the bone of contention being reefs, shoals, underwater features and small islands. Claimants from Southeast Asia include four member 394 Interview with Ambassador Ong Keng Yong States of ASEAN, namely Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as China and Taiwan. The Chinese government submitted a map of the South China Sea to the relevant committee of the United Nations [UN] in 2009, with a “nine- dash line” showing the area claimed by China. Since then, there have been moments of tension as standoffs at sea have occurred between the competing claimants. Subsequently, under the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS], the Philippine government submitted its case to an arbitral tribunal over the objection of China. The tribunal delivered its decision in mid-2016, which China did not accept. The fact that both regional and extra-regional players are involved in Southeast Asia serves to emphasize the strategic importance of the region, particularly the South China Sea. In your opinion, what is at stake here? Can you talk a little more about that geostrategic importance? In the past few years, tensions in the South China Sea have increased as the contending parties have been very active in asserting their respective claims. Geopolitically, we also see an open contestation between the United States and China over the future of US military and strategic roles in Southeast and East Asia. In maintaining their presence, the US Navy and US Air Force traverse the South China Sea, which entails going in and out of the area claimed by China in its nine-dash-line map. The United States sees China’s statements and interpretations as a reflection of the growth of its economic and political influence. China is the number two economy in the world today, and the perception is that China wants the rich natural resources in the South China Sea. US analysts see China as aiming to increase its presence and role in the region while minimizing that of the United States. Additionally, there is an ongoing debate as to whether the United States is part of the Asia-Pacific region. Former US president Barack Obama has stated that the United States is actually an Asia-Pacific nation and that it has every interest and intention in staying in East and Southeast Asia. In recent months, the new Trump administration has reaffirmed that the United States is committed to existing policy towards East and Southeast Asia. As a result of China’s economic growth, the Chinese market has become a major source of support for all ten ASEAN economies. In fact, all ASEAN member States have China as their largest trading partner. In some Chinese intellectual circles, it is perceived that the prominent US presence in Southeast Asia hampers the healthy development of China’s relations with regional countries. There is an underlying concern that tensions between China and the United States could intensify. An issue of particular importance is that more often than not, Southeast Asian countries have to be very careful in managing their foreign policy with the United States and China in such a manner so that neither side feels less endorsed than the other. Obviously, this complicates diplomacy in the region. 395 Interview with Ambassador Ong Keng Yong How do you see these tensions impacting the population? What would be the consequences for the economy, and how would it impact the civilian population if there were to be an escalation of tensions in the region? Most of the people in Southeast Asia have become used to the presence of the United States, its companies and its organizations, as well as other external actors such as those from Europe, Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and New Zealand. Due to its geography and tropical position, Southeast Asia is a zone of frequent natural disasters. As a result, US disaster relief operations are quite common. For example, one sees US aircraft carriers, naval ships and planes responding quickly to any natural disaster such as the consequences of a typhoon or tsunami. Southeast Asians do not see the US presence and role in the region as strictly oriented towards business, politics or military interests. For the last seven decades, due to the quick action of US forces in disaster response situations, many people have become accustomed to the idea that the first on the scene would be a US naval ship, plane or disaster relief team. Southeast Asians have become much more open, cosmopolitan and comfortable in seeing countries such as the United States, China, Japan, Russia or India interacting with their governments. The region is multi-religious, multi- lingual and multi-ethnic. Over the last several decades, especially after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Southeast Asian countries have seen steady internal and external development. ASEAN has also become more visible in promoting regional cooperation, both among its member States and with non-Southeast Asian countries. For instance, the East Asia Summit brings together all the big powers in a yearly meeting with ASEAN member States. In general, the fifty years since ASEAN was founded in 1967 have been relatively peaceful and prosperous for Southeast Asians. To that end, the only open discord that we have seen in the past few years is this contest in the South China Sea.